Internship Experience

I did 3 internships before graduating — herE's the honest ranking

by Cedric Tan·May 21, 2026

Internship 1: Local e-commerce startup, 3 months, product team, RM800/month.
Internship 2: CIMB management trainee rotation, 6 months, RM1,200/month.
Internship 3: Regional fintech (SG-HQ, KL office), 4 months, RM2,000/month.

Ranking on learning: Fintech > Startup > CIMB
Fintech had the most ownership and fastest feedback loops. Startup had good work but chaotic support. CIMB was structured but formulaic.

Ranking on CV value: CIMB > Fintech > Startup
The CIMB name still opens doors even though I learned the least there. Brand matters in ways that feel unfair.

Ranking on pay: Fintech > CIMB > Startup

Takeaway: Do the brand-name one early to tick the box, then do the high-ownership one to actually learn. Sequence matters.

#internship#ranking#comparison#learning

Comments (6)

Azizul Hisham12

The UM vs UTM debate is still going. But honestly your department and your specific lecturers matter more than the university brand for most fields.

Penny Kwan17

What university you go to matters for your first job. After that, what you've built matters far more. Don't over-index on brand for graduate school.

Amirudin Noor20

A first class from a lesser-known local university plus a strong portfolio will beat a second class from a top university in most tech hiring situations.